First off, I would like to thank Mr. Majors for realizing that some bikers are courteous and watch out for pedestrians (“Sick of Bikers” Oct. 24).

It is nice to hear that everyone doesn’t stereotype all bikers into the “evil” category.

I see the points he made and find myself feeling the same way, while I am not on my bike and think of this while I am riding.

The area that needs to be addressed in giving the bikers a breakthrough has nothing to do with sidewalks or pedestrians. It is while we are following the city laws and looking at the signs prohibiting bikes on the sidewalks.

I ride on the street except when I am travelling to or from class on campus where there are no roads. There was a report of a bicyclist involved in an incident with an Ames Police vehicle in the DPS Log on Oct. 6.

This could have been either person’s fault, as I have witnessed (as well as everyone else has) that many bicyclists do not obey stop signs.

I have also seen many vehicles not using turn signals (including law enforcement vehicles) and swerving in front of a bicyclist who is at full speed to make a turn.

Could it be possible that we be honored as normal vehicles on the road? Also, would it be possible to honor us at stop signs following the alternating movement that you would with another automobile, along with merging into turn lanes?

This week alone, I was nearly run over when a motorist didn’t alternate turns and proceeded while I was crossing the lane of traffic after waiting my turn at the stop sign near Music Hall and Friley Hall. He slammed on the brakes to avoid me as I swerved to save my life.

Then, as we were approaching Lincoln Way, he merged into the lane to go up Welch Ave. and I was forced to the curb to once again save my life. It was all I could do to keep my balance and not get run over.

Earlier in the week, I was nearly hit while riding through an intersection. And I was also almost rear-ended while stopping at a stop sign.

All of these events happened in a span of three days.

While the majority of drivers are not as bad as these individuals at recognizing that bicyclists should be considered as motorists, there still seem to be plenty who don’t.

Is it necessary that someone – possibly myself – should be seriously injured or killed before anything is done about this problem?

It is this type of incident that a helmet may or may not save a life. There is only so much that a piece of styrofoam can do.

Aaron BrandJuniorHorticulture